We had our Sunday Introduction to Meditation Class at Yoga Bliss. We practiced Dr. Kristin Neff‘s guided meditation called Self Compassion. Kristin is a professor of psychology and author of Self Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up & Leave Insecurity Behind. She’s conducted pioneering research into self-compassion and has developed an 8-week program to teach self-compassion skills. I learned about Kristin after listening to and interview with her in Rick Hanson‘s Compassionate Brain series. I encourage you to investigate these resources as both are generously offered as a community service.
Monthly Archives: August 2013
Taking in the Good
We had our Sunday Introduction to Meditation Class at Yoga Bliss. We practiced a guided meditation called Taking in the Good from The Buddha’s Brain: the Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love and Wisdom.
Neuropsychologist, author and instructor, Rick Hanson, suggests this practice to help overcome what scientists believe is the brain’s built-in “negativity bias.” Rick suggests intentionally practicing ways to “take in the good” to improve how you feel, get things done and treat others.
Befriending Your Body
We had our Sunday Introduction to Meditation Class at Yoga Bliss. We practiced a guided meditation called Befriending Your Body from The Buddha’s Brain: the Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love and Wisdom. Neuropsychologist, author and instructor, Rick Hanson, suggests this practice to help build the neural circuitry of self compassion.
Rick observes how we commonly push our bodies and ignore their needs until they get intense. We get disappointed, frustrated, impatient or even hostile toward our bodies. As if aging, illness and perceived imperfections were a matter of choice. He warns of the big price we pay for these attitudes and behaviors since we’re not separate from our bodies. Their needs and pleasures are our own. He suggests that if we treat our bodies like good friends, we’ll feel better, have more energy, be more resilient and probably live longer. Why live longer? This is a question you’ve probably considered more deeply after experiencing a serious illness or the loss of a loved one. I find motivational energy in this question. It gives me a willingness to explore the mystery of life beyond the limiting attitudes of my fixed beliefs.